Why Learn Mandarin

Pondering whether or not to take up the challenge of this new language? We have 7 reasons for you, Why Mandarin (Chinese Language) is definitely worth your time and effort to study.

1. Business opportunities
With China’s admittance to the WTO, a large trade balance is in its favour.
China has nearly three decades consecutive double-digit growth, the biggest foreign exchange reserves, largest consumer market and world’s favourite destination for FDI (foreign direct investments). The need to interact with China is apparent.

2. Travel/Tour
China is the fourth most visited countries in the world with 49.6 million inbound international visitors in 2006.
The Great Wall of China, Forbidden City in Beijing, Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an, fairyland of Jiuzhaigou and panda reserve in Sichuan, are just some of the mysterious oriental exotic destinations worth your exploration in China.

3. Order Your Favourite Chinese Food in Mandarin
Menus in Chinese restaurants are generally written in Chinese characters, and you might not get a menu with picture of the dishes. Some menu translations serve well to amuse, like ‘Bean curd made by a pock-marked woman’, ‘Chicken without Sexual Life’, ‘Four-Joy Meatballs’, ‘Husband and Wife’s Lung slice’, but are not exactly the best food descriptions.
Ordering your Chinese dishes in Mandarin will surely impress your friends and the waiters. Most importantly, you save the risks of ending up with suspicious-looking cuisines on unadventurous days.

4. China on the World Map
Since 2008 Beijing Olympics, China has grabbed the world’s attention.
With the highly-anticipated 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and frequent news on the global economical impact of China, it is no doubt that China holds one of the most prominent spots on the World Map.

5. Most Common Language
Chinese is the most commonly spoken language in the world. Did you know that Chinese is the fastest-growing language studied in the US? Other countries are also picking up the popular language.
By the year 2010, there will be approximately 100 million non-Chinese worldwide learning Chinese as a foreign language.

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6. Cultural interest
Chinese Culture is one of the World’s oldest and most complex culture, encompassing different values, unusual mythology and spirituality, unique martial arts, exotic architecture and distinctive cuisines. Seeing is believing.

7. Mandarin not as difficult as perceived
Unfortunately, many Chinese schools and Chinese learning materials have given students the opposite impression. In fact, Chinese language is simpler than English; there are no singular or plural tense. No past or present tense, and conversationally no gender differentiation.